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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: nail · season · sharp · leaves · craft · cue · bound · mug

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. craft — boats
  4. cue — a signal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. cue — a hint
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bound — certain
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. sharp — clever
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. mug — a face
  14. mug — a cup
  15. cue — for pool
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. season — of the year
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. craft — a skill
  22. season — in sport
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com